Diabetes - What Not To Eat & Why

What not to eat and why….

As a diabetic, it is very important to know what things you can and can’t eat. I need to point out to you that you can eat everything, but just in moderation.

Anyway, here is a list of the four big food types which I have come to find are incredibly good to avoid and why:-

 - White flour.

I must say that this has been the best thing to do for my diet. Since switching to the wholemeal, stoneground and brown varieties my levels have been much more stable and I feel much healthier.

The flours that stay in your system for a long while are much better for you than the one’s that will make your sugar levels peak.

After a while, my body started to show almost exactly the same symptoms to eating white flour as it did to having a high sugar level, I felt nauseous and had a huge headache. This has certainly helped me not to eat it any more, and I hope that you will strive to cut it out and see how much better brown flour can make you feel.

 - Alcohol.

Alcohol has a bizarre effect on your body, and although I must say I have never had more than about 3 units of alcohol in one night, I do know something about them.

Alcohol causes your sugar levels to rise and then suddenly plummet. But mostly, when you are consuming alcohol you start to lose responsibility for yourself, which means for example that you will probably fall asleep without having checked your sugar levels, or something much worse could happen.

The key to going out drinking alcohol is to put a limit on yourself, allow yourself a set amount, you will know yourself where it is that you start to lose control of yourself.

It is also important to drink things that aren’t packed with sugar, so for example, brightly coloured drinks are usually packed with sugar, but a glass of red wine has much less.

 - Refined sugar.

This is something that is apparently in everything we buy pre-packaged in the supermarkets today, or at least that is the way it seems. Reading the packet labels is so off-putting sometimes, but very helpful.

If you are a person that enjoys microwave meals, spare the time to check the ingredients list on the back, if glucose or fructose or sucrose is on there in any form don’t buy it, after all why should a savoury meal have sugar in it?

Organic foods will usually have a much more natural form of sugar in them, and usually less also, so if you can afford it, buy these. Another way is simply to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables in large quantities, which you can be sure have no added sugars at all.

Be careful with dried fruits however, as some of these have been heavily sweetened with sugar.

 - Takeaways or takeout.

The problems with takeaways are immeasurable, and these problems are further increased for people who have to stick to a ‘diet’ for medical reasons. There is a big problem with each specific type of takeaway, but I will also mention what things you can order if you have to.

Firstly, Chinese.

These meals are full of added sugars, and of course, monosodium glutamate.

Everything you eat will probably be covered in sticky sauces, and these are the main problem. So things you could order from the menu are chow mein or pancake rolls, anything you know will not be served with anything remotely sticky.

Next, Indian meals.

These vary totally depending on the takeaway, some will serve naturally found and cooked food, and others will serve you things with all sorts of added flavour enhancers and sugars.

It is the hidden sugar contents in the sauces of any curry (especially mild curries, like korma) that you need to be particularly wary of, and the white rice and naan bread.

So, when you are working out what to have from the menu go with a medium spicy curry, and then cook your own brown rice at home to go with it.

Lastly, Pizza.

White flour and high levels of fat are the two main problems here. These high levels of fat are the real problem because it is quite hidden within the pizza, and can last all evening.

What has happened to me several times is that I have eaten pizza at about 7pm and then checked my sugar level at 9pm which was absolutely perfect.

I have then gone to bed and woken up in the morning with a very high level due to the amount of fat needing to be processed overnight. So when ordering from a pizza place, go for the salad, or get a range of starters like chicken wings or corn on the cob.

You'll need to work out what works for you as a diabetic - keep an eye on your glucose levels, make a note of what works and what gives you problems.

You may also find that you can "get away" with certain foods at lunchtimes when you're going to be active, but that they don't work when eaten in the evenings.

Keep records, check levels and above all enjoy eating!

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